This morning, young # 8, #9 and #10-14 are HOME on their familiar training grounds at White River Marsh, Wisconsin. It's quite a story: When the remaining five crane-kids failed to find their way home after "leader" 5-12 left them on April 7, the team decided it was time to jump in. The three birds were captured, loaded into the tracking van and driven to Wisconsin throughout the night when they would normally be roosting quietly anyway. At 6 a.m. this morning, the three crates were carried out to the grassy area in front of their former pen at White River Marsh and the young cranes set free, with their old pal #4-12 there to supervise! What about cranes #3 and #4? They each had their own adventure after the five "wandering" cranes got divided last week due to storms, leaving only #8, #9, and #10 accessible for capture. See bio pages and marvel at the tale of Brooke's heroic rescue of #3-14 and discover the plans to get him and #4-14 ("Peanut") home again with their flock mates in Wisconsin!

• Whooping Cranes in May

Cranes 8-14, 9-14 and 10-14 on the grass training strip just after their release

Colleen Chase, Operation Migration